Core squeezer



0611- 1960 A. D. HAMEL ETAL CORE SQUEEZER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1958 FigJ Fig.2

IN VEN TORS Armand D Hamel Joseph V. Cloull'er BY gem nan Wavy EM Oct. 1960 A. D. HAMEL EIAL 2,956,485

CORE SQUEEZER Filed Aug. 14, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 28 Fig.3

0 Armand 0. Hamel Joseph l Clout/er 1N VEN TORS I 23 BY WWW; 3m

Oct. 18, 1960 A. D. HAMEL ETAL CORE SQUEEZER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 14, 1958 Fig.5

Armand D. Hamel Joseph M Clout/er INVENTORS 1 BY om Wave; 19%

1960 A. D. HAMEL ETAL CORE SQUEEZEIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 14, 1958 Armand 0. Hamel Joseph M. Clout/er 1N VE N TORS W Mmm United States Patent CORE SQUEEZER Armand D. Hamel, 441 Denah St., and Joseph V. Cloutier, 256 Madison Ave., both of Berlin, NH.

Filed Aug. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 755,015

3 Claims. (Cl. 9383)' This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in machines for applying retaining rings on the ends of fibrous cores, and more specifically to a core squeezer.

In certain industries, particularly the paper industry, there are provided cores which are formed of fibrous materials and on the ends of which it is desired to mount reinforcing rings. In order that the rings may be firmly secured on the cores, it is desired that the material from which the core is formed be momentarily compressed and the ring slid thereover while in the compressed state. Then as the core naturally expands, the outward pressure of the expanding fibers of the core retains the ring thereon.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a machine in the form of a core squeezer, which machine is so constructed whereby it is merely necessary to place one end of the core therein and by manipulating the operating mechanism thereof, the core is circumferentially squeezed about its end sufliciently to permit the desired ring to be placed thereover.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved core squeezer for circumferentially squeezing ends of cores which are formed of fibrous materials, the core squeezer including jaw members having core engaging faces which form segments of the intended compressed shape of the core tube end, the jaw members being interchangeably mounted in the core squeezer whereby the jaw members may be quickly removed so that the core squeezer may accommodate cores or tubes in different diameters.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine for squeezing ends of tubes or cores, which tubes or cores are formed of a compressible material, such as a paper product, the machine including a mandrel which during the core squeezing operation is intended to function both as a support and a backing for the core and which is aligned with squeezing jaws of the machine whereby the core or tube being squeezed is not internally deformed, all the deformation of the tube being restricted to the exterior thereof, as desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine for externally compressing an end of a compressible tube or core, the machine including a plurality of jaw members having tube engaging faces forming segments of the intended compressed shape of the tube end, the jaw members being slidably mounted in a support and being provided with crank-like operators which, when actuated, will simultaneously move all of the jaw members radially of the tube intended to be compressed whereby there is a simultaneous circumferential compressing of the tube.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved machine for externally compressing an end of the compressible core, such as a tube, the machine including a mandrel for supporting and backing up the tube in a vicinity of the compression thereon, and a plurality of jaw members externally engaging the tubeto effect the circumferential compressing thereof, the

machine being provided with two simple controls, one

control actuating the mandrel and the other control actuating the jaw members.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in thedetails of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a parthereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 7

Figure l is a front elevational view of the machine which is the subject of this invention, the core to be compressed being illustrated in position in the machine and cut off and shown in section, also the lower portion of a stand for the machine being broken away;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine of Figurel with the stand therefor being omitted and an upper portion of an encircling case being broken away and shown in section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the sec-' tion line 3-3 of Figure 2 and shows the relationship of the various components of the machine in .a core squeezing position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an en-' larged scale similar to Figure 3 and shows the machine in a core released position and in a mandrel releasing position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55 of Figure 3 and shows the rela-S tionship of the jaw members with respect to the core and the support which carry the jaw members;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the details of a modified form of jaw member and mandrel for receiving a smaller diameter core;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentarylongitudinal sectional view taken through a core which has a ring placed on the end thereof after being compressed or squeezed;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 8-8 of Figure 3 and shows the specific details of the cranks for actuating the jaw membersand the member for simultaneously actuating the cranks; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 99 of Figure 3 and shows the manner in which the operator for the mandrel is shifted longitudinally of the machine in response to rotation of a cam-type drive member.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated the core squeezing machine which is the subject of this invention, the machine being re ferred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The basic components of the machine 10 includes a rigid supporting frame which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12. The supporting frame 12 includes a bottom plate 14 which has extending upwardly from opposite edges thereof side plates 16. Mounted in the frame 12 and fixed against rotation thereby is a supporting ring which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 18. a

As is best illustrated in Figure 3, the supporting ring 18 rests upon the bottom plate 14 of the frame 12. The supporting ring 18 includes a cylindrical portion 20 which has formed integral therewith and adjacent one end thereof, but in recessed relation an annular portion 22.

Mounted in the supporting ring 18 and fixedly secured thereto is a support which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 24. The support 24 includes an enlarged circular portion 26.which is snugly seated with- 1n the cylindrical portion 20 and which is secured to the annular portion 22 by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolts 28.

The support 26 also includes a reduced diameter rearwardly extending portion 30 which is connected to the enlarged portion 26 by means of an intermediate portion 32, the intersection of the intermediate portion with the reduced portion 30 forming a stop shoulder 34 whose purpose will 'be set forth in more detail hereinafter.

The front face of the enlarged portion 26 of the, support 24 provided with an enlarged circular crosssectional recess 36. The recess 36 further opens into a reduced diameter recess 38. Disposed concentric of the recesses 36 and 38 is a bore 40 which extends longitudinally through the support 24.

Rigidly secured to the support 24 and seated in the recess 38. is a mounting plate 42 of a mandrel support 44. The supporting plate 42 is secured in place by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced fasteners 46.

The mandrel support 44 has a large diameter bore 48 extending a major portion thereof and terminating short of the forward end thereof in a reduced diameter internally threaded bore 50. Opening into and intermediate portion of the bore 48 is a transverse longitudinally extending slot 52.

Slidably mounted on the mandrel support 44 is a frustoconical expander 54. The expander 54 is secured to an elongated rod 56 which is mounted in the bore 49 for longitudinal sliding movement. The rod 56 has a transverse pin 58 in the forward end thereof, which pin extends through the slot 52 and through the expander 54 to lock the expander 54 to the rod 56 for longitudinal sliding movement on the mandrel support 44. The slot 52 limits the sliding'movementof the expander 54 on the mandrel support 44.

Telescoped over the forward end of the mandrel support 44is a fixed expander 60. The fixed expander 60 is secured to the mandrel support 44 by means of a centrally located bolt 62. Secured tOxthfi fixed expander 60 andextending rearwardly therefrom is a workpiece engaging member 64. The workpiece engaging member 64 includes a circumferential end portion 66 which engages the fixed expander 60 and terminates in a plurality of individual segments 68 which extend from the portion 66 in spaced parallel relation. Itis to be understood that the work-engaging member 64 is formed of a spring material so that the segments 68 are of springlike construction. Thus by sliding the expander 54 longitudinally relative to the expander 60 and mandrel support 44, the work-engaging member 64 may be expanded or contracted so that it may selectively engage the interior of a core, such as the tube 70, to retain the tube in place to function as a backing for the tube 72 in the core squeezing operation. Incidentally, the segments 68 each terminate in outwardly projecting portions 72.which engage the end of the tube 70 to limit the insertion thereof into the machine 10 thereby positioning the end of the tube 70 in the squeezing operation.

The front face of the support 24 is provided with a plurality of radially extending recesses 74 which open into the recess 36. While the axes of the guideways 74 are disposed in circumferentially spaced, radial extending relation, the guideways 74 are of constant width, as is best shown in Figure 5. Seated in each of the guideways 74 is a jaw member which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 76. Each jaw member 76 includes a shank portion 78 guidingly engaged in the guideways 74 and a tube or core engaging portion 80 which has a tube engaging face 82. The tube engaging faces 82 form segments of the intended compressed shape of the tube end. The jaw members 76 areremovably retained in place by a front plate 84 which is secured to the support 24 by a plurality of circumferentially spaced fasteners 86. The plate 84 is clamped against a forward edge of the supporting ring 18, as is best shown in Figure 3.

Referring now to Figure 6 in particular, it will be seen that there is mounted in the support 24 a modified form of jaw member 88. The jaw member 88 is identical with the jaw member 76. and differs therefrom only in that the shank 90 is longer and the tube engaging portion 92 thereof is of a lesser extent than the tube engaging portion 80 of the jaw member 76. The jaw member 88 cooperates with a modified form of mandrel 94, which mandrel 94 is identical with the mandrel previously described with the exception that the mandrel 94 is intended for use with a small diameter tube, such as the tube 96 illustrated. It will be understood that other mandrels and other jaw members will be provided so that the machine 10 may accommodate tubes of all diameters.

The enlarged portion 260i the support 24 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced bores 98 which extend therethrough and which open into the central portions of the guideways 74. Rotatably journalled in each of the bores 98 is a journal portion of a crank which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 100. It is to be understood that there is one crank 102 for each of the jaw members 76.

Each of the cranks 102 is provided with a throw 104 secured to the journal at the rear end thereof, the throw 104 being disposed rearwardly of the enlarged portion 26 and extending inwardly from its respective journal 100. Removably secured to each of the throws at the inner end thereof by means of a bolt 106. is a follower 108 in the form of a roller.

The journal 100 has extending from the opposite end thereof in eccentric relation a second throw 110. The second throw 110 is of circular cross section and. is received in a bore 112 of a square bearing block 114. The bearing block 114 is slidably received in a rectangular opening 116 formed in itsrespective jaw member shank. While the opening 116 has the same radially extending dimension as its respective bearing block 114, the opening 116 is of a greater width than its respective bearing block 114 to compensate for the eccentric mounting of the journal 110. However, it will be readily apparent that when the cranks 102 are rotated, the rotation, of the cranks 102 will result in the radial movement of the jaw members 76. Mounted on theforward part of the reduced portion 30 is a sleeve bearing 118. The sleeve bearing 118 has rotatably journalled thereon a circular plate portion 120 ofa crank 122, the crank 122 having a horizontally extending crank arm 124. Secured to the plate portion 120 for rotation therewithv is an operator 126, the operator 126 also being journalled on the sleeve bearing 118. The operator 126, as is best shown in Figure 8, has formed in the forward part thereof a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending guideways 128. Like the guideways 74, the guideways 128 are of constant width. Positioned in each of the guideways 128 is a respective one of the rollers 108. Thus when the operator 126 is rotated, each of the cranks 102 are simultaneously rotated to simultaneously remove their respective jaw members 76 radially in their guideways 74. Also rotatably journalled on the sleeve bearing 118 is a plate portion 130 of a crank 132. The crank 132 also includes a horizontally extending crank arm 134. Secured to the upper part of the plate portion 130 by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending fasteners, 136 is a cam member 138. The cam member 138has a formed therein a cam slot 140.

The cam slot 140 overlies an end member 142 which is secured to the end of the support 24 in telescoping relation by means of a plurality of fasteners 144, as is best shown in Figure 13. The end member 142 has formed at the upper ,surfaethefeof a longitudinally extending guideway 146 in which there is mounted a slide bar 148.

Secured to the forward end portion of the slide bar 148 by means of a fastener 150 is a follower 152 of the roller type which is disposed in the cam track 140, as is best illustrated in Figure 2.

The bar 148 has an externally threaded rear part 154 on which there is mounted one end of a connecting bar 156, the connecting bar 156 being adjustably retained on the bar 148 by means of nuts 158. The connecting bar 156 is also engaged over a reduced end portion 160 of the rod 56 and secured thereon by means of a nut 162.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 in particular, it will be seen that the frame 12 is seated on a suitable stand or bend 164 so that the operating parts of the machine will be disposed at the proper height. Furthermore, the frame 12 and the working components of the machine 10 may be housed in a suitable housing 166. In the operation of the machine 10, the machine 10 operates continuously with the machine being alternately moved between a core squeezing position and a core releasing position. This is accomplished by connecting to the control links 168 and 170 a suitable continuous operating drive (not shown). The drive may be in the form of a two throw crank which is driven by a motor and a speed reducing assembly.

In the operation of the machine 10 a core, such as the tube 70, is slid over the mandrel, which mandrel for the purposes of identification will be referred to in general by the reference numeral 172.. The mandrel 172 at this time is in its collapsed position. In the operation of the machine 10, the lever arm 134 is operated with the result that the cam plate 138 will be rotated which in turn will effect movement of the rod 56 forward so that the expander 54 is moved from its retracted position of Figure 4 to its expanded position of Figure 3. At this time the work engaging member 64 engages the interior of the tube 70 and firmly supports tube 70 as well as forming a backing therefor. When the crank arm 124 is moved, the jaw member 76 is simultaneously moved inwardly so that the tube engaging faces 82 thereof compressibly engage the exterior surfaces of the tube 70 to form an external recess 174 therein, as is best shown in Figure 3.

In the operation of the machine 10, the tube 70 is rotated several times in between squeezing operations. This operation takes approximately 4 to 5 seconds in the preferred speed of operation of the machine 10. After the tube 70 has been compressed, the ring 176 which is desired to be placed on the tube 70 may then be positioned thereover. Of course, it is necessary to re move the tube 70 from the machine 10 before the ring 176 is positioned. The ring 176 is illustrated in Figure 7 and positions the tube 70.

From the foregoing description of the machine, it will be readily apparent that the machine 10 is of such a nature whereby an operator in an almost continuous operation may position a tube end in the machine, clampingly support the tube end with respect to the machine, compress the tube end, as is desired, and then release the tube so that the ring may be placed thereon. Thus the machine has greatly simplified the squeezing of the tube or core which the tube is used as. This, of course, results in a saving of both time and money.

Another advantage of the machine 10 is that the mandrel and jaw members are interchangeable whereby the machine, with minor adjustments, may be used in conjunction with tubes of various diameters.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A machine for externally compressing an end of a compressible tube whereby a retaining ring may be positioned thereon, said machine comprising a mandrel for receiving in supporting and backing relation an end of a tube to be compressed, a squeezing head cooperating with said mandrel for externally compressing a tube, said squeezing head comprising a fixed support, a plurality of radially extending guideways in said support, said guideways being circumferentially spaced and aligned with said mandrel, a jaw member positioned in each of said guideways restrained by said support to radial movement, each jaw member having a tube engaging face forming a segment of the intended compressed shape of the tube end, a crank for each of said jaw members rotatably journalled in said support, each crank having a throw journalled in its respective one of said jaw members, and drive means connected to said cranks for simultaneously rotating said cranks to move said jaw members towards and away from said mandrel.

2. A machine for externally compressing an end of a compressible tube whereby a retaining ring may be positioned thereon, said machine comprising a mandrel for receiving in supporting and backing relation an end of a tube to be compressed, a squeezing head cooperating with said mandrel for externally compressing a tube, said squeezing head comprising a fixed support, a plurality of radially extending guideways in said support, said guideways being circumferentially spaced and aligned with said mandrel, a jaw member positioned in each of said guideways restrained by said support to radial movement, each jaw member having a tube engaging face forming a segment of the intended compressed shape of the tube end, a crank for each of said jaw members rotatably journalled in said support, each crank having a throw journalled in its respective one of said jaw members, operating levers secured to said cranks remote from said throws, and drive means connected to said levers for simultaneously rotating said cranks to move said jaw members towards and away from said mandrel.

3. The machine of claim 2 wherein said drive means includes a rotatable plate having radial slots therein, a follower carried by each of said operating levers seated in a respective one of said radial slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,673,993 Parker June 19, 1928 1,899,291 Parker Feb. 28, 1933 8 Re n e g Au 8, 1950 

